15:25 Hexham

Monday 24 April 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:07

Download The N-E Bet App Today Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 58.13s

Morozov Cocktail^b³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 97| BF| D

7/1

Just respectable efforts at best in defeat this season but dangerous to discount, given that he's now 6 lb below the mark off which he hit the target at Newton Abbot last spring.

Form: 533644

Sir Apollo^b,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: S England| OR: 95

22/1

Both career wins have been registered at Sedgefield, the latest in first-time blinkers over 27f in February. However, didn't get very far at Fakenham a fortnight ago and possibly a shade too high in the weights.

Form: 441P2F

Along Long Story^v1⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 95

66/1

Maiden hunter winner at Thurles (25f) last March for Sean Aherne but has shown nothing in 3 starts for new yard this season. Hopes pinned on the first-time visor (tried in cheekpieces last time) doing the trick.

Form: 1-50P0P

Event Of Sivola^v¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 93| C| D

15/2

Won over 4m at Hexham in November. By no means disgraced when fifth in a 15-runner handicap over this trip in first-time blinkers at Wetherby last time but ideally served by a stiffer test nowadays. Visor refitted.

Form: 175535

Gipsy Lee Rose^t,v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 91| CD

9/2

Did the job well when landing this race 12 months ago. That's her sole taste of success from 21 starts in this sphere but she may well make a bold bid to repeat the dose off a 6 lb lower mark this time round.

Form: 235623

Lights Are Green³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 85| D

17/2

Point winner who hasn't made much of an impact in a trio of maiden hurdles to date. Sent chasing for this handicap debut and moving up in trip will probably help, so he's worth a second look.

Form: 26-1533

Ex S'elance^p⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Dowson| T: V Thompson| OR: 84| C| D

13/2

Returned from successful spell in points with a win over 2½m here last month. Struck again at Newcastle recently and while he's yet to score over this trip under Rules, the 9-y-o has to enter calculations having gone up just 1 lb.

Form: 111P21

Eveque¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 79

8/1

Good efforts on his first 2 start over fences last season but it's been downhill pretty much all the way since.

Form: 225P-56

Henry Brown^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: H Burns| OR: 79| CD

15/2

Suited by way race developed when finally off the mark over this C&D in September. Good third at Sedgefield recently (shaped better than the distance beaten) and possibilities off 1 lb lower back here.

Form: 146323

Castlegrange^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Scott| OR: 77

18/1

Ex-Irish hurdler/chaser who continues to fall in the weights for current yard without looking like taking advantage.

Form: P-64PP4

To The Limit^b⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 76

10/1

Both career victories gained at Kelso, the latest when bagging 4-runner handicap chase (23.4f) in January. However, not at his best in 4 subsequent starts and others make more appeal.

Form: 3183P0

Calypso Storm^t³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 75| CD

66/1

Winner between the flags in November 2021 but, with the exception of his debut third in a bumper way back in 2015, he hasn't shown much in 7 starts under Rules.

Form: 77/312-P

Square Viviani^p²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: Joshua Thompson⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 75| BF| CD

25/1

Hit the target twice in 2019/20, including over this C&D, but he was well beaten on latest start under Rules in a handicap hurdle last February.

Form: 3P70-43

Gibberwell^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 75

8/1

Won a maiden hurdle in Ireland in autumn 2020 but more bad efforts than good ones to his name on this side of the Irish Sea.

Form: 794FPP

Deerfoot^t¹⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: S Mulqueen| T: M A Barnes| OR: 74

80/1

Bit and pieces of fair form to his name but record over jumps stands at 0-22 and others are more convincing.

Form: 4P3754

Non-Runners

Maid Of Houxty³⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: D W Whillans J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Maid Of Houxty (4/1), Gipsy Lee Rose (9/2), Ex S'elance (13/2), Morozov Cocktail (7/1), Event Of Sivola (15/2), Henry Brown (15/2), Gibberwell (8/1), Eveque (8/1), Lights Are Green (17/2), To The Limit (10/1), Castlegrange (18/1), Sir Apollo (22/1), Square Viviani (25/1), Along Long Story (66/1), Calypso Storm (66/1), Deerfoot (80/1)

GIPSY LEE ROSE has failed to threaten so far this season but may well again come good in this race, which she won off a 6 lb higher mark 12 months ago. Morozov Cocktail is capable of a bold show, while Ex S'Elance and Maid of Houxty both merit respect. However, point-winner Lights Are Green can be expected raise his game now upped in trip for this chase/handicap debut and he is second choice.